Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Cardinal: Abuse Investigation Requires 'More Evidence'

A Cardinal in Chile is under fire for suspending the church investigation into a retired priest because he is "looking for more evidence," according to an AP report.

Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz wrote a letter that he read to his parishioners, saying "I suspended the matter to wait for new evidence, analyze more deeply what we already had and hold new consultations with experts in canonical law."

The letter concerns retired Rev. Fernando Karadima, 79, who is under criminal investigation by Chilean authorities.

The former priest is accused of molesting at least four young men over at least two decades, three of them when they were still minors.

One accuser says the abuse lasted for 20 years.

Karadima's lawyer, of course, says he is innocent.

This is just one of many recent priests to be accused of sexual abuse.

A Belgian Catholic bishop resigned on Friday after admitting he had sexually abused a boy when in charge of the diocese of Bruges.